Planning Family Holidays in France
A holiday in France is the perfect place to get away from it all, easy and convenient to travel to, yet still able to evoke a feeling of being far from home. A trip to rural France is an absolute delight and with such varied regions and many activities to try out there will be something in it for all the family. One such idyllic and unspoilt rural destination is Limousin, 350km south of Paris and the traditional heartland of France. Three departments make up the region ˆ La Creuse in the east, Haute Vienne in the west and Correze in the south. It is one of the lowest populated regions of France and boasts beautiful lush countryside, mountains, rivers and lakes and wonderful clean air. Previously neglected by tourism, the region is becoming increasingly popular with visitors seeking out the old fashioned image of rural France.
Each day brings an opportunity to get away from it all or get to know the locals and their customs at the regions festivals, village feast days, fairs, concerts ˆ it`s entirely up to you. Water sports are popular along the river Creuse at the Lac de Chambon where you can try a variety of activities including canoeing, kayaking sailing and fishing. The Creuse area is known the `water tower` of France. If water sports aren`t your thing there are ample opportunities to try thousands of kilometres of walking and mountain biking trails, pony trekking and a great selection of golf courses. The region is famous for Limousin cattle, one of the biggest attractions of the area is the plateau de Millevaches (thousand cows), a regional park which is ideal for hiking thanks to its hills and rivers.
Limoges is the largest and capital city of Limousin, its name deriving from the enamel and fine china trade. There are interesting craft shops and museums to be visited here. There are thousands of tiny hamlets and villages in the region, some of which are classified as the most beautiful villages in France. Here you will be able to explore beautiful architecture, cafes, bars and parks and soak up the lifestyle. You can take family day trips to explore the beautiful chateaux in the region including Chateau de Boussac and Chateau de Chalus. Other interesting trips include a day on the steam trains, travelling through the gorges of the Haute Vienne, or try hot air ballooning in Lubersac. You could also visit the largest maze in the world ˆ Le Labyrinthe at Gueret.
One of the best ways to explore the region is by car. The A20 motorway goes through the centre of the region with excellent road links north to Paris and south to Toulouse. You will find cheap car hire Limoges airport, giving you the freedom and independence to explore this beautiful region at your leisure.